The Top Five Mob "Shocking True Crime Stories" of the 1950s!
- Rod Kackley
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
The 1950s weren’t all sock hops and soda fountains. Beneath the surface of post-war prosperity, organized crime thrived, evolved—and occasionally exploded into the headlines. Here are five of the most notorious mob stories from that unforgettable decade:
1. The Murder of Albert Anastasia (1957) The head of the brutal enforcement arm “Murder, Inc.” and boss of the Gambino crime family, Anastasia was gunned down in a Manhattan barbershop in broad daylight. His assassination stunned the underworld and marked a violent power shift in the Mafia hierarchy.
2. The Appalachian Meeting Raid (1957) More than 60 mob bosses from across the country gathered in Appalachian, New York—only to be busted by state troopers. The meeting confirmed the existence of a national crime syndicate and forced the FBI to finally acknowledge the Mafia’s reach.
3. The Kefauver Hearings (1950–51) These televised Senate hearings, led by Senator Estes Kefauver, exposed the breadth of organized crime in America. Mob figures squirmed under questioning while millions watched from their living rooms, shocked by what they saw.
4. The Disappearance of Willie Moretti (1951) A Genovese family underboss with rumored ties to Frank Sinatra, Moretti was shot multiple times in a New Jersey restaurant. He was silenced, many believe, for talking too much to the Kefauver Committee.
5. Chicago’s Slot Machine Crackdown (1950s) Mayor Martin Kennelly declared war on illegal gambling, targeting Chicago’s extensive mob-run slot machine empire. The crackdown sparked a turf war and further exposed the Outfit’s grip on city politics.
One story you won’t find in those headlines? The brutal, forgotten case of newspaper editor Molly Zelko, who vanished without a trace in 1957 after going toe-to-toe with the mob in Joliet, Illinois.
Her shoes were found in next to her car. Her body never was.
My book, Murder, Molly and the Mob: A (1950s) Shocking True Crime Story, uncovers the truth behind her disappearance, the political corruption that fueled it, and the terrifying message it sent to anyone daring to speak out.
If you think you know 1950s mob history—think again.
Murder! Molly and The Mob: A (1950s) Shocking True Crime Story
And here’s more...
A few weeks ago, I told you that Jersey Shore Entertainment to bring Murder! Molly and The Mob to a big, or small, screen near you.
Today...more news....
The trailer for Murder! Molly and The Mob.
One more thing before I let you go. Another of the most-popular stories in the Shocking True Crime Stories Collection, is available for free, for Kindle readers, through August 8, 2025!
Just click here, fellow Kindle readers, and start reading The Murder of Pamela Hutchinson, A Shocking True Crime Story...
That’s it for now. As always, keeping reading, turning those pages, and getting close to the most heinous true crimes in history, without losing a drop of blood.
And hey! It’s all cheaper than a latte....
Rod
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